I watched Waiting for Superman and thoroughly enjoyed it! I also see where unions are valuable, but take some issues with them. I'm in WA state and was in h.s. when the WASL rolled out and was in pilot phase. Being that you could only score results among other WA students and there are already standardized tests to measure performance and aptitude, I elected not to participate. I was suspended after being told by teachers and even my principal that the state could use the testing results as a means of judging funding for individual schools, but still wasn't swayed into partaking. Then, my junior and senior years, I chose to do a Running Start program, where I took classes at a local community college and earned credits towards a degree while finishing h.s. requirements for graduation. The guidance counsellor told me for each student that did this, my h.s. lost thousands of dollars in funding and tried unsuccessfully to persuade me to stay. My response was my education, my choice. My parents didn't work and pay taxes for me to not have options or pass up good opportunities. I only had the support and encouragement of two teachers to do the program, feeling that I wasn't getting enough stimulation or challenge in AP h.s. classes. I almost missed out on being able to walk and do graduation with kids I'd known since the second grade from the ****** treatment of my resentful educators.
